Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

Darica Smith wants the rest of Tallahassee to hop on the fitness train with her.

Smith, 32, works out at Fit and Functional on Thomasville Road at least twice a week and occasionally gets in a third workout. She said fitness is always easier when it’s done in a group, which is why she’s already convinced two friends to attend a community workout this weekend.

“For me, it helps when I have people that I know and care about working out around me,” she said. “We tend to encourage each other. I have two or three friends that will probably show up with me on Saturday that typically don’t always work out with me.”

Dozens of exercise enthusiasts who want to start off the new year right are expected to show up for the first community workout of 2014. This month’s workout starts at 10:30 a.m Saturday at Ninth and Terrace Park.

Sherman Rosier, owner of GroupFit 90 and Fit and Functional, said he’s been running community workouts for years, typically organizing two or three each year. The outdoor workouts are set up like a group exercise class and a run by Rosier and his staff.

The event is free to attend; however Rosier is asking for donations of blankets, pillows and deodorant to benefit the Big Bend Homeless Coalition.

“We’re looking to bring more awareness to health and fitness and do it in a community atmosphere,” he said. “We want people to be aware of the resources that are available to them. It’s mainly to get people motivated.”

Rosier said he expects a large turnout for Saturday’s workout. The largest group was about 52 people, he said, and the month of January always brings out large groups of people who’ve made New Year’s resolutions to get fit.

A recent student study conducted by the University of Scranton on New Year’s resolutions and how often they’re actually kept showed only about 8 percent of people keep resolutions throughout the year.

The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, reported “get fit” was the top resolution for 2014.

“We hope people come out and enjoy the day,” he said. “It’s the month of January and we’re trying to get people out and give them a start for a healthy lifestyle.”

The day is meant to get everyone moving, Rosier said.

“You don’t need to be a fit person at all,” he said. “This is for all levels. Basically we’re just going to get people moving and exercising.

If you go

What:

New Year’s Community Workout

When:

10:30 a.m Saturday

Where:

Ninth and Terrace Park

Cost:

Free to attend. Participants are asked to bring donations of blankets, pillows and deodorant to benefit the Big Bend Homeless Coalition